Tunisia was found to be the country where companies invested the most in innovative tech solutions during the crisis, an Oxford Business Group (OBG)'s Africa CEO Survey conducted at the end of April and which results were published in report in July, revealed.
Tunisia's emphasis on science and technology in recent years has meant that the country is well placed to adapt in response to the disruption caused by the pandemic, reads the 29-page report entitled "Tunisia Covid-19 Response Report", conducted in collaboration with the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA Tunisia).
"Indeed, having demonstrated exceptional digital abilities, many of its African peers have identified Tunisia as a cradle of innovation during the crisis."
One of the technological innovations cited by the report is the Tunisian start-up Enova Robotics developed a robot known as Veasense, which is being used to safely assist Covid-19 patients in Abderrahmen Mami Hospital in Tunis. The robot allows medical staff to remotely conduct preliminary diagnoses and monitor patients without any physical contact.
The Ministry of Interior also acquired Enova Robotics' PGuard, a robotic ground vehicle used to assist with the enforcement of the country's lockdown rules. Controlled remotely by government officers, the robot includes infrared and thermal cameras, an audio system, GPS tracking, and a sound and light system that can be used to request identification papers and issue verbal warnings.
Another example of the application of new technology amid the pandemic is the Corona Bot, a digital application that can provide information and support for individuals over Facebook.
The app uses artificial intelligence and has sent over 200,000 messages to 10,000 individuals.
According to the report, the pandemic has also dramatically accelerated the implementation of mobile payment systems. "Prior to the outbreak, some private sector players had been calling for the removal of red tape that had held back the widespread adoption of mobile transactions since 2013, but there had been little success," it pointed out.
"The crisis created an urgent need to quickly and securely transfer small amounts of money to a large number of people, after a
TD200 exceptional aid package was rolled out for 350,000 low income citizens."
"Covid-19 has showcased the importance of embracing digitalisation and improving digital infrastructure," Adnane Ben Halima, vice-president of public relations for the Mediterranean region at Huawei told OBG.
"Changes since the start of the pandemic have been accompanied by political will and a shift in mentality in favour of digitalisation. This has led to an expedited delivery of projects that have been on standby for years in just a matter of weeks," he added.
The crisis revealed the importance and potential held by early-stage businesses in helping address many of the challenges that emerged, with innovative solutions devised by local start-ups, such as telemedicine, the report concluded.